Press Note

RAGGING ACTION FORCE

An initiative of St. Mary’s College to combat Ragging

A new academic year, especially for students getting into the college for the first time, has become a time of uncertainty and mixed feelings for both the aspiring students and their parents. From anxiety to excitement, from high school to higher education, young students are a confused and an apprehensive lot about the treatment they might be given in the college by their seniors.  At this point of time, probably they are all set mentally for the college but ragging is also at the back of their minds. Some students look forward to the fun filled days and friendly ragging, while the others are more sensitive, emotional and protective in their upbringing, might not be used to physical or verbal abuse or being commanded to do small or big errands for the senior students.

Over the years, “ragging” has come to mean extreme harassment and even physical and mental torture of the first year undergraduates at a time when they need friendship and support to adjust to a new environment of undergraduate life. There is no justification whatsoever for ragging beyond limits of friendliness, on or off campus.

Ragging is not only a heinous offence but is also an infringement of the fundamental rights of the victims as no one can be forced to do anything one doesn’t want to. It is most prominent in the professional institutions and must be eradicated. There are no two ways about it.  The new comers should also remember that while it is the duty of the college managements to ensure that the fresher are not put through such ordeals, but it is also the duty of the fresher to bring the offence to the notice of the authorities, if they are put through any inconvenience or embarrassing situations.  

No one has the right to abuse anyone physically and sexually for their own sadistic pleasures, which might embarrass a young person to such an extent that he/she attempt or commit suicide. But the fact also remains that the young students do not come forward and complain openly to the lecturers or the management for the fear of being harassed further or being snubbed by the senior students. They hope that perhaps after a period of time the ragging might cease.  

Every college is supposed to have an anti-ragging cell and a new comer can approach these cells for help apart from the helpline numbers given by the government. One of the effort made by some college managements in completely severing the communications between the seniors and the juniors, is only a temporary solution to the problem and might even create more distance between them.

But for the knowledge of the senior students of any institution, one might note that ragging is a punishable offence and the punishment for ragging is 2 years rigorous imprisonment which might be increased to 10 years in case of grievous hurt or physical abuse. Depending on the gravity of the offence a ‘ragger’ can be expelled from the institution if found guilty of the offence reported. The government is taking a strong stand against any complaint lodged by a student and if found true, the ‘ragger’ will have to bear severe consequences, thus ruining his or her life.

 The students of St. Mary’s College, Yousufguda have initiated an anti-ragging drive to combat such situations. When the students of St. Mary’s showed enthusiasm and eagerness to fight for the cause and spread awareness, the management of the college backed and encouraged the students to go ahead with their cause. The Director of St. Mary’s College, Mr. Mahender Reddy didn’t hesitate, even for a moment and has even gone a step forward in the attempt to help the St. Marians create awareness and help curb ragging. Mr. Mahender Reddy, the youth icon and a dynamic director of St. Mary’s,  has helped, motivated and encouraged the forming a Ragging Action Force (RAF) and provided all the technical, monetary and material support for the cause.

The students volunteers of RAF intend to go to the colleges and after seeking permission from the managements, they hope to be allowed to put up posters of the cause and talk to the students and get the pledge signed by them.